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Travel during the summer can be even more dangerous than in the winter. No, there isn't any snow or ice that you have to watch out for, but in the summer there are tons of people out an about and you need to keep your eyes open and alert! With warmer weather brings people going out for walks, walking the dog, kids playing outside, cyclists, and motorists, and so many other reasons. As a driver slowing down is a great start, because speeding tends to happen more in the summer. But this week we want to focus on something else, we want to focus on blind spots. If you aren’t sure what blind spots are, they are spots in your mirror that you cannot see. One of the most common times blindspots are an issue is when changing lanes. If cyclists, motorists or pedestrians are in your blind spot and you go to change lanes or make a turn, the possibility of a crash is high. So how do you avoid this from happening? Well, we're glad you asked! Below you will find tips for avoiding blind spot crashes for cyclists, motorists, or pedestrians. And if you want to slip behind the wheel of a new Volkswagen that offers Blind Spot Monitoring, then stop into Fiore Volkswagen and allow us to help you find the right ride for you! Pedestrians and Blind Spots: Avoid being in a vehicle's blind spot, especially trucks and buses. Make eye contact with the driver. Otherwise, assume the driver cannot see you. Be alert at intersections, even when you have the right of way, e.g. on a green light or pedestrian crossing signal. Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Do not cross behind a vehicle as it could back up without noticing you. Be visible: wear bright clothing, reflective strips, etc. If you are trying to make your presence known, keep in mind that the driver cannot hear you. Walk on the sidewalk, or, if there isn’t one, on the side of the road, facing traffic. Cyclists and Blind Spot Avoid being in a vehicle's blind spot, especially trucks and buses. Make eye contact with the driver. Otherwise, assume the driver cannot see you. Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Be visible: wear bright clothing, reflective strips, etc. Never pass on the right near an intersection. Motorists, Motorcyclist and Blind Spots: Avoid being in a large vehicle's blind spot Do not cut off a heavy vehicle Never pass a heavy vehicle on the right at an intersection Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the heavy vehicle in front of you Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Find The Right Volkswagen For Your Summer!

Whether you’ll be hitting the road for a big adventure or heading down the road for some groceries, you and your passenger’s safety is always important, especially when it comes your little bundle of joy. It’s a sad reality that hundreds of children are killed in crashes due to improper car seat installation or practices. To help avoid something like this we want to help point out the 8 most common car seat mistakes and tell you how to fix it so that you can better protect the ones you care for most. Take a few minutes to check out the mistakes below and then check out your car seat? Think something could be adjusted, but not sure? Bring your car seat to the nearest fire department and they can help ensure you or help you with any car seat needs! If you’re looking to upgrade your vehicle to one with more advanced driver assist and safety technologies to help keep you and your passenger’s safer, stop into Fiore Volkswagen today! The child is turned face-forward too early Babies must ride facing the rear until they are at least 1 year old and weighs 20 pounds - Experts recommend waiting even longer but it is up to the parent Some parents don’t like facing the baby to the rear because they have trouble seeing the baby’s face, but it is important that the child doesn’t face forward in case of a crash. A solution is to get a childproof mirror to hang on the backseat headrest to see the baby. The seat isn't installed tightly enough Most people don’t know how tight they should be pulling the safety belt, the answer is as tight as possible. When you jiggle the area where the safety belt is pulled through, the chair should not move more than 1 inch in any direction! Harness straps are too loose A big mistake is not tightening the harness straps enough, this because they don’t want to make it too tight or uncomfortable for the child. The correct way is the straps should be tightened so that the slack can’t be pinched between an adult’s thumb and forefinger. This ensures that the child won’t slip too far down in the seat and that the child won’t fall out. Infant seat angled incorrectly The seat must be reclined no more than 45-degree angle, just enough so the child doesn't flop forward but if he/she is positioned anymore than that they could be thrown out between the straps headfirst. Harness straps are in wrong slots When the child is facing the rear position, the straps should be in slots at or just below the shoulder. If the child is old enough to be facing forward, the straps should come through the uppermost slots. Harness retainer clip is out of place The clip should always be at the child’s armpit level. The locking clip is out of place If needed, it should be positioned no more than an inch from the safety-belt latch. The safety belt isn't in locked mode. This information will be provided to you in the owner’s manual of your car, determine what type of belts you have and follow the directions regarding how they must be used with a child-safety restraint. Find A Safe Volkswagen For Your Family!

Whether you’re a new driver or you have a new driver, learning how to drive a vehicle can be a stressful situation. Even after they receive their license, letting them go out alone leaves you worried and wishing they would just come home already! That’s why it is important to continuously teach, remind, and set a good example for new drivers. It is a fact that the number of accidents in correlation with new drivers is way higher than those of drivers that have been driving for years. This is understandable though, with the lack of experience accidents happen, but that doesn’t mean we cannot prevent them. So if you’re a new driver, check out the tips below and make sure to enforce them when you are driving. The more you practice something the easier it is to become a habit. Safe driving means fewer accidents. Mom or dad, if you’re reading this be sure to enforce this for your new driver as well, but remember that these apply to you as well. Children learn by example. So if you are disobeying these rules, chances are your child will too. Tips: Keep your cell phone off: It’s no secret that texting while driving is a huge epidemic when it comes to all drivers, but especially when it comes to teen drivers. The best thing you can do for yourself is to turn off your phone completely, or if that is too hard for you, put it on airplane mode or a mode that disables messages. It might be hard to not have your phone but it will be better than getting into an accident and hurting yourself or someone else. Turn your headlights on: Using your headlights increase your visibility and help others see you. Even if you think it is bright enough, you should still have them on at times like the early morning or early evening (dusk). Obey the speed limit: Speeding is a major contribution to teen driving, especially when there is a lot of traffic. Obeying the speed limit is important because it gives you time to react in the case you need to come to a stop fast or something else happens unexpectedly. Driving solo: According to the DMV, having one passenger with a teen driver behind the wheel can double the risk of an accident. Teen drivers do not have the experience and skills of an adult driver, having even one person in the car can cause an extreme distraction...now imagine a full vehicle! Driving solo is a much safer bet in most instances. Practice defensive driving: Always be aware of the traffic ahead, behind, and next to you. It’s better to know your surroundings and have a plan in case an unexpected incident occurs. Stay at least one car length behind the car in front of you at slower speeds, and maintain a larger buffer zone with faster speeds. Choose a safe vehicle: If possible try to drive a vehicle with the most up-to-date safety features such as anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and airbags, and one with an excellent crash safety record Find A Vehicle With Great Safety Features Here!

As many of us know, texting while driving is illegal yet lots of us continue to take the risk and do just that! Road accidents can happen anywhere in the world, and at any time. It is one of the most random, split-second things that can ever occur. Everything can go wrong because of one tiny twitch of a hand at the wrong moment. People travel at such high speeds in the world now that nearly every accident is either fatal or leaves someone critically injured, or disabled. Cell phones have made this issue even worse! The internet has taken over human minds and even the idea of being disconnected from point A to point b is a massive deal and cause people to check their phone while they’re behind the wheel. The cardinal rule of driving is to keep both hands on the wheel, and between phone calls, text messages, and even navigation systems like GPS, it is almost impossible to do so. Some Mind Blowing Statistics: There are millions of people in the U.S. that are involved in road accidents each year and of these, 1.6 million have a cell phone involved in them. That’s more than half of all the road accidents in the United States. Over half the road accidents in the States have cell phones involved Every year, almost half a million people are injured in crashes that have involved a driver who was distracted in some way. Each year, over 330,000 accidents caused by texting while driving lead to severe injuries. This means that's well over half of all distracted drivers are distracted because they have been texting while driving It takes an average of three seconds after a driver’s mind is taken off the road for any road accident to occur Reading a text message while driving successfully distracts a driver for a minimum of five seconds each time. This means that the chances of an accident occurring while reading a text is extremely high The average speed in the US is about 55 mph. Taking five seconds to read a text, or being distracted by so many vehicles on the road means there is a huge chance of something terrible happening in this distance. Texting and driving aren’t just making you an irresponsible drive, but the consequences of doing so are fatal. Your friends will understand if you don’t answer right away, and they will be a lot happier to hear you were delayed answering them rather than hearing you were in an accident because you were answering them. If the message is urgent, pull over and take the call or answer the message. Other than that there is no reason to put yourself or anyone else in danger just to answer a message that says “lol okay!” Statistics Source: https://www.icebike.org/texting-and-driving/ Find a vehicle that allows you to stay connected handsfree!

Are you looking for a new car? Are you completely unsure of what you want it to be except you know you don’t want it to cost you your whole life savings? Been there done that! When I was looking for my new vehicle I was very overwhelmed by all of the options are out there! I mean come on! You can get a car, a crossover, a truck. Oh, but do you want 4WD or AWD… what does that even mean? Looking for a new vehicle can be stressful, at some point I just wanted someone to tell what to get! Lucky for you I’m here to be that person for you! The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is the newest model to be released in the Volkswagen family. And whether you know everything there is to know about a car or you’re like me and don’t know anything, it’s clear that the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is an amazing car and it’s soo cute! There are a lot of features that go into a car and every driver has that one feature that car has to have, whether that’s the horsepower, the color, the technology, or maybe it’s just the price! I believe all of those features are important but I think everybody can agree that the safety features of each car are really IMPORTANT! That’s why I want to focus on the safety features offered in the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. Safety is the core value of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, literally from the core of the car! The 2019 Jetta has a safety cage so in the event of a crash the front and rear of this vehicle will crumple to help absorb crash energy, while a rigid safety cage helps deflect it from the driver and passengers. But that’s not all! The 2019 Jetta has Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), which means in the event that the airbags deploy, he ICRS can turn off the fuel pump, unlock the doors, and activate the hazard lights. It helps react if you might not be able to. Additional Features: Automatic Post-Collision Braking System: The 2019 Jetta includes the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which helps slow the vehicle down after collision, helping reduce the chances of any additional impacts. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): This system monitors and maintains proper air pressure in your tires, which helps with efficiency and safety. The TPMS system alerts you when there is a loss of tire pressure so you know to add air. Seven stability-enhancing systems: If you choose the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta you will be getting Seven stability-enhancing systems which include Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), which helps maintain appropriate stopping power during a hard-braking situation, to Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which can adjust engine throttle and apply corrective forces to the wheels that need them most. So if you’re looking for a new Vehicle and you’re still unsure of what you want in your car, don’t pass up a chance for a greater peace of mind and check out the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta! Betta Getta Jetta, Today!

There you are driving down the highway with your friends and you’re looking at the sunshine and blue skies and can’t wait to make it to the beach, or the hike , or wherever your adventure takes you and then all of a sudden you hear a pop and just like that you watch your summer road trip deflate as fast as your tire is! Now you’re freaking out because it’s really hot without the AC and no one knows how to change a tire, and did you mention it’s really freakin' HOT! Stay calm, it’s going to be okay. In fact, I am going to give you a couple of pointers that will have you back on the road in no time! Make sure before you leave for a long trip that you have a spare tire that is inflated to proper air pressure. This will save you from having to inflate the tire on the spot or have your car towed in general. The first step is to pull over and find a safe stop to change the tire: Once you’ve realized your tire is flat do not abruptly stop, reduce speed and scan the surroundings I get it the highway isn’t the safest place to change a tire and you don’t really have a lot of options, I get it! Never attempt to change your tire on a narrow shoulder near oncoming traffic. Keep moving (slowly) until you find a safer spot. Turn on your hazard lights: Turn on your “flashers” which will help other drivers see you on the side of the road, which help avoid an accident! Apply the parking brake: Once you’ve completely stopped moving, apply the parking brake. This will help minimize the possibility of your vehicle rolling when replacing the tire. Apply the wheel wedge: Wheel wedges go in front of or behind the tires to further ensure the vehicle doesn’t roll while you fix the flat tire. If you’re changing a rear tire, place these in front of the front tires. If your flat tire is at the front, put the wheel wedges behind the rear tires. Remove the hubcap: If your vehicle has a hubcap covering the lug nuts, it’s easier to remove the hubcap before lifting the vehicle with the jack. If your lug nuts are exposed, you can skip this step. Loosen Lugnuts: Using a wrench twist the lug nuts counterclockwise until the become loose enough to twist off Place the jack under the vehicle: The right place for the jack is usually beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire that’s flat. Many vehicle frames have molded plastic on the bottom with a cleared area of exposed metal specifically for the jack. To safely lift and avoid damage to the vehicle, follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle owner’s manual. Raise the jack: With the jack correctly placed raise the car six inches off the ground. Never put any part of your body under the car! Unscrew the lug nuts: Take the lug nuts all the way off Remove the tire Mount the new tire Tighten the lug nuts by hand Lower the vehicle Use the jack to lower the vehicle so that the spare tire is resting on the ground but the full weight of the vehicle isn’t fully on the tire. At this point, you should tighten the lug nuts with the wrench, turning clockwise, as much as you can.  Push down on the lug wrench with the full weight of your body. Lower the vehicle completely Replace the hubcap Once you're back home, take your tire to a technician to see how bad the damage is Getting a flat tire can be a real bummer but don’t let it ruin the day. It’s always a good idea to be prepared so like I said before it is important to make sure that you have all the equipment you would need to replace the tire before leaving for vacation! Make sure to ALWAYS have a jack, wrench, and a spare tire. In addition, it might be a good idea to have an air pressure reader and inflater. Get your VW Fresh New Tires!

How often do you drive around with your fuel light on? I’ll admit, I do it too often, and I’m sure you’ve done it once or twice. We all have been in the situation when that little *DING* happens at the most inconvenient time. But, did you know you can actually damage your car by running it on empty and here’s how. When your fuel light comes on it is a warning, and indicating to you that your fuel has reached its’ reserve level. Depending on your vehicle, that is about 10 to 15 percent of your tank’s capacity, which you can calculate your remaining range by referencing that along with your vehicle's average fuel economy. But, it’s still not a good idea to let your car run dry. In the event of an emergency, you should have at least a half-tank of gas. And, even if there is no emergency you should still have a half-tank. Don’t get yourself stranded waiting for a tow truck, which will cost your wallet more than a tank of gas would have. A fuel pump is a device within your fuel tank that runs fuel from the tank to the engine. Gasoline is used to keep your fuel pump cool and lubricated, and in order for that to happen your car needs gas. If you’re always running your car low on gas that pump isn’t staying as lubricated as it needs to be and you run the risk of overheating your engine. Not only is this a hefty repair, a failing fuel pump leads to poor performance from your vehicle. More specifically, your car could not start at all or you will not have a smooth acceleration - and that’s no good. Also, that pump has an air filter which has a tendency to get dirty faster if you run on empty. Anything that has sunk to the bottom of your tank is now being sucked through that filter and clogging it, which can lead to another hefty repair cost. So, next time your car nags you to pull over for gas, do it a favor and fuel it! It is better in the long run for you, your car, and your wallet! Fiore VW Is Here For All Your Service Needs

Potholes are lurking, here, there, and everywhere. After a crazy winter we are dedicating this week's blog to those pesky craters and what you can do as a driver to stay safe while traveling. Many people often wonder how a pothole is created. First, water seeps down into the cracks of the pavement and expands once it is frozen. This causes the pavement to weaken due to the frozen water pushing the pavement apart. When a vehicle drives over those weak spots, the pavement can’t withstand the pressure and crumbles. And boom, massive crater in the road. Avoiding potholes can be somewhat simple. Steer clear of puddles, water is great at hiding a pothole’s size and depth. Only drive through if you can see a thin layer of water. Sometimes it is just inevitable that you hit a pothole. And sometimes it is at a speed faster than you would have liked. If this happens, pullover when it is safe to do so and look over your vehicle for tire or any exterior damage that may have occurred. Potholes can do damage to tires and alignment, both things must be fixed ASAP. If you encounter a pothole you can call your local DOT or DPW and let them know about the road conditions. The more times a pothole is reported, the more motivation to fix the problem! Are Your Tires Pothole Safe?

No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing, if you’re driving then you are always at risk of having an emergency. Well, that’s a risk no matter what, but this is a blog about cars so we’re going to focus on that. Regardless of the emergency, you always need to be prepared! Check out our suggestions for things to keep in an emergency kit. Put these things in a bag, find a good place for them in your vehicle, and then leave them there. Make sure everything isn’t expired or depleted every so often, and then drive confidently! You’ve got it handled! First Aid kit. Some of the items to include are: Band-Aids Hand sanitizer. Antiseptic. Antibiotic ointment. Bug spray. Aspirin (or similar). Cotton balls. Gauze pads. Tweezers. Bandana. Ace bandage. Fire extinguisher. Choose a small one that is easy to store. Road flares (if not already in your tire-changing tools). Jumper cables. Rain ponchos. Tarp. Flashlight and extra batteries. Rags. Duct tape Scent-free baby wipes. Drinking water and non-perishable snacks. Multipurpose tool. Look Fantastic With DriverGear!

Are you the type of person who has trouble seeing when it’s dark out, but still might need to drive anyway? Have you searched for solutions to your problem endlessly with no real results? My first suggestion is to pay a visit to your optometrist and talk to them, but if you’ve already done that as well, then here are my tried-and-true solutions to your night driving problems! Of course, none of these tips will magically improve your vision, but you’ll be able to get around better and with less eye pain and strain. First, if you did buy into “solutions” like tinted glasses, throw them away. I’m sorry. They’re just obstructing your view and making it harder for you to see. My first tip is to look at the white line on the side of the road when there’s an oncoming vehicle with bright headlights. You’ll be able to stay in your lane while not getting a spot right in the middle of your vision from looking directly at headlights. Next is to use your brights whenever you can. Obviously use them courteously - make sure you turn them off when you see another car coming in your direction and if you’re in an area with a lot of homes and streetlights, but otherwise, use your brights! They’ll help you see the road much better, and they’ll give you a farther view into the distance, as well as show you any oncoming hazards, like deer. Finally, if you try these tips and still have trouble driving at night, consider shifting your schedule so that you do not have to drive after dark, or arrange for a carpool or a ride to wherever you need to go so that you don’t need to drive. Safety is the most important thing, so act with it in mind! Stay Safe With Volkswagen Car-Net!

Defensive driving is something we typically learn about in Driver’s Ed and then never actually think about ever again. However, we should really be thinking about it more, because it not only helps you as a driver but it really does keep you safe on the road. Here’s what defensive driving entails: Paying attention Expecting the unexpected Maintaining a safe speed Not tailgating Anticipating the moves of other drivers Being conscientious about the weather and road conditions Not being distracted Respecting other drivers on the road With these tools, you should be able to drive defensively, and therefore more safely. Remember that your primary goal as a driver is getting to where you’re going safely. That doesn’t include speeding or driving like a crazy person! Always pay attention, and always make sure you’re obeying the rules of the road. Drive Safely In A New Volkswagen

It’s important to mind your manners in the parking lot. I’m leading with that because this blog is entirely about how to behave yourself and have good etiquette in the parking lot - something we don’t tend to think about too much but makes a huge difference when it comes to staying safe! And these rules don’t only apply to drivers - these are for pedestrians as well, because when we’re in the parking lot it’s important that everyone try to stay safe. You can’t rely on other people or drivers to make the right decision, so if we all make the right decision then we’re all taking care of each other! Anyway, keep reading to check out our rules for Parking Lot Etiquette (we’re sure Miss Manners would approve). Park straight in the parking space. Make sure that your vehicle is not only straight in the parking space, but also centered. If your vehicle is crooked, that makes it harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles, and puts your vehicle at risk of dents, scrapes, or other minor injuries. Also, if you drive a shorter car, make sure you’re pulled in just enough that your tail end is on the same level as the vehicles on either side of you so that your space isn’t mistaken for an empty one. If you drive a larger car, make sure you are as far into the space as you can be so that your tail end is not sticking out too far, which can impact other cars’ visibility as well as put you at risk of being hit by an oncoming vehicle. Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to risk the paint job, park further out where there are fewer cars. Don’t be selfish and keep someone else from a closer spot just because of your paint! If taking up two spaces is the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are less wide. If you find this to be the case in a spot, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need. Take turns waiting for a parking spot. Don’t speed up to steal a parking space from someone who has been waiting longer than you! That is just plain rude, and can lead to angry driving which in turn can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience. Walking is good for you, anyway! If you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. Specials Just For You!